A national senator in Argentina earns a gross monthly pay of about ARS 12,922,000 in November 2026, and with the final installment of the legislative wage deal will reach ARS 13,115,760 gross in December, according to figures published by La Nación. A national deputy earns much less: about ARS 6,072,000 gross, with take-home pay close to ARS 4.3 million, according to Cuarto Poder, because the lower house lacks the mechanism that ties senators' pay to the raises of Congress staff.
A senator's pay equals about 32.4 November minimum wages (ARS 398,800) and more than three times President Javier Milei's salary. This guide explains how much a deputy and a senator earn in Argentina, how each is calculated, why the two chambers differ so much and how they compare with the rest of the region.
View the data as a table
| Senator, November gross | ARS 12.9 M |
| Senator, December gross | ARS 13.1 M |
| Deputy, gross | ARS 6.1 M |
| Senator/deputy gap | 2.1x |
How much a senator earns in Argentina: pay month by month
Since Resolution 8/24, approved by the Senate on April 18, 2024, senators' pay is not set in pesos but in modules, and the module's value rises with each wage deal for legislative staff. Each senator receives 4,000 modules: 2,500 for pay, 1,000 for representation expenses and 500 for relocation, according to La Nación. The same resolution created a "13th pay," equivalent to a year-end bonus.
The wage deal signed in late August sets raises of 1.9% in September, 1.8% in October, 1.6% in November and 1.5% in December, 6.98% in total. That takes the module to ARS 3,278.94 and pay to ARS 13,115,760 gross by year-end. The months in between are a Vivarae News calculation using those percentages:
View the data as a table
| Senator | |
|---|---|
| Aug | 12.26 |
| Sep | 12.49 |
| Oct | 12.72 |
| Nov | 12.92 |
| Dec | 13.12 |
| Month of 2026 | Wage-deal raise | Module value | Senator's gross pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| August | 1.9% | ARS 3065.15 | ARS 12,260,601 |
| September | 1.9% | ARS 3123.39 | ARS 12,493,552 |
| October | 1.8% | ARS 3179.61 | ARS 12,718,436 |
| November | 1.6% | ARS 3230.48 | ARS 12,921,931 |
| December | 1.5% | ARS 3,278.94 | ARS 13,115,760 |
Source: La Nación for December's module, the percentages and August pay (ARS 12,260,000); the months in between are our own calculation. Figures are gross: they do not deduct pension, health insurance or income tax. In July, Cuarto Poder reported a slightly lower August figure, ARS 11,877,000, based on internal Senate calculations, and the previous deal added 2.4% in June, 2.2% in July and 1.9% in August.
View the data as a table
| Pay (2,500 modules) | Representation expenses (1,000) | Relocation (500) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senator | 8.20 | 3.28 | 1.64 |
How much a deputy earns in Argentina
The 257 national deputies were not included in the Senate's module system. According to Cuarto Poder, in July 2026 they kept a gross salary of ARS 6,072,000 and take-home pay close to ARS 4.3 million, and the gap with senators caused discontent in the lower house, where the issue could be reopened in the Budget Committee. The Chamber of Deputies has not published a later figure, so July's is the latest available.
| Position | Gross monthly pay | Times the minimum wage (November) |
|---|---|---|
| National senator (November 2026) | ARS 12,921,931 | 32.4 |
| National senator (December 2026) | ARS 13,115,760 | 32.9 |
| National deputy (July 2026) | ARS 6,072,000 | 15.2 |
| President of the Nation | ARS 4,066,018 | 10.2 |
| Minimum wage (November) | ARS 398,800 | 1 |
Source: La Nación, Cuarto Poder, executive pay decree and the Wage Council (Resolution 4/2026). The president's pay has been frozen since December 2023: details in how much Argentina's president earns, and the monthly minimum wage in Argentina's 2026 minimum wage.
- Apr. 18, 2024Senate Resolution 8/24Pay is set in modules tied to legislative staff wage deals.
- Jun.-Aug. 20266.64% wage deal2,4% + 2,2% + 1,9%
- Aug. 2026Senators, close to ARS 12 millionDeputies stay at ARS 6,072,000 gross, without the indexation mechanism.
- Sep.-Dec. 2026New 6.98% wage deal1,9% + 1,8% + 1,6% + 1,5%
- Dec. 2026Senators: ARS 13,115,760 gross
How much deputies and senators earn in Argentina versus the region
In dollars, Argentine lawmakers' pay sits in the middle of Latin America. The latest Directorio Legislativo report, cited by Parlamentario on September 2, puts Argentine deputies at about US$ 5,300 a month (14th in the region) and senators at about US$ 7,900. Senators who turned down the latest raise receive about US$ 6,800.
| Country and chamber | Approximate monthly pay (US$) |
|---|---|
| Colombia (Congress) | Over 17,500 |
| Mexico (Senate) | Over 11,000 |
| Uruguay (Legislature) | Over 9,900 |
| Costa Rica | 8,800 |
| Guatemala | 8,000 |
| Argentina (Senate) | 7,900 |
| Mexico (Chamber of Deputies) | 6,400 |
| Argentina (Chamber of Deputies) | 5,300 |
Source: Directorio Legislativo, according to Parlamentario. The published text does not state the exchange rate or whether figures are gross or net, and Peru, Brazil and Chile are listed above US$ 9,000 without an exact amount. To compare with each country's official amounts, see how much a deputy earns in Chile, how much a deputy earns in Mexico and how much a member of Congress earns in Peru.
Why Congress pay is under debate
The debate returns every time a raise is announced. Supporters of the module system say it keeps lawmakers from voting on their own raises, since pay automatically follows staff wage deals. Critics say that in practice this "indexation" has pushed senators' pay above 32 minimum wages while the president's salary remains frozen. Some senators told Parlamentario they donate their pay, but did not provide documents to prove it.
The discussion also comes in a pre-election year: Argentina elects a president and renews part of Congress in October 2027. The calendar and polls are in our guide to the 2027 elections.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a senator earn in Argentina in November 2026?
About ARS 12,922,000 gross, according to Vivarae News' calculation with the wage-deal percentages published by La Nación. In December it will reach ARS 13,115,760.
How much does a deputy earn in Argentina?
About ARS 6,072,000 gross and close to ARS 4.3 million net, according to the latest published figure, from July 2026.
Why do senators earn more than deputies?
Because since 2024 senators' pay has been set in modules tied to the legislative wage deal; deputies do not have that mechanism.
What are representation and relocation expenses?
Two components of a senator's pay: 1,000 modules for representation and 500 for relocation, on top of the 2,500 pay modules.
How much does an Argentine lawmaker earn in dollars?
About US$ 5,300 for a deputy and US$ 7,900 for a senator, according to Directorio Legislativo.
